Polk monitor 10 opinions

Aqs612scag
Aqs612scag Posts: 102
edited February 2011 in Vintage Speakers
Hello forum,
I recently came across a pair of monitor 10A's and last vintage monitor 10's both selling for $80 each. Both are in decent shape. Bear in mind that Im just a beginner wanting to upgrade from my 5A's so I dont know much about these things. Which one should I buy and any differences in sound quality being as they are in the same configuration. Do you think the price is fair too.
Thanks
Post edited by Aqs612scag on
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited December 2004
    The original Monitor 10's had the SL2000 tweeter. All things being equal, I would choose the later model of speaker, having the SL2500 tweeter.

    I love my Monitor 10 Series two's, and would recommend them to anyone who likes the sound of the vintage Polk speakers, but can't afford the larger SDAs.

    At $80 each, do you mean per speaker, or per pair?

    Have a good time!
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited December 2004
    The original 10's had the peerless tweets, or at least some of them did. I have a pair of these, in horrendous condition (looks like someone took a hammer to the cabinets, the tweets look older than dirt itself, and the mids have some zits on 'em. The passives look great, though) that flat-out sound better than a pair of series II Monitor 12's in every way, save for perhaps that last ounce of bass extension; and the 12's are in fantastic shape. Not sure if that helps any, I just wanted to tell my story.

    Two Channel Setup:

    Speakers: Wharfedale Opus 2-3
    Integrated Amp: Krell S-300i
    DAC: Arcam irDac
    Source: iMac
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    3.2 Home Theater Setup:

    Fronts: Klipsch RP-160M
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited December 2004
    I could've been mistaken, but I thought they had the SL2000, which had that nasty hump that everyone tries to avoid.

    Well, Aqs612scag, you may just have to wait until some more people chime in. Sorry...

    nadams
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited December 2004
    Okay, I _was_ wrong. According to the list (http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/service/models/modelpartslist.php3?model=monitor), the Monitor 10 series all the way through the early "b" models had the Peerless SL1000. The later "B"s had the infamouse sl2000, and the series two had the sl2500.

    The 1000 was better than the 2000, and the 2500 comes in the middle... I think

    I should stop opening my mouth so wide.... makes for easy entry of the foot.
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2004
    The older the Mon10, the better.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Aqs612scag
    Aqs612scag Posts: 102
    edited December 2004
    to answer your question nadams the price is for a pair.
    I bought the older monitor 10's and loved the sound & I paid $75 for the pair. Unfortunately they didnt come with the stands where could I find replacement for them?
    This week I will take a look at the newer monitor 10's and see if they are worth a buy.
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  • Aqs612scag
    Aqs612scag Posts: 102
    edited December 2004
    attached pic of the speaker purchased.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,806
    edited December 2004
    That's the Peerless tweeter. The coated PR suggests these are Monitor 10A's. The unsuffixed Monitor 10 had an uncoated paper 10" PR.
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited December 2004
    Originally posted by Aqs612scag
    to answer your question nadams the price is for a pair.
    I bought the older monitor 10's and loved the sound & I paid $75 for the pair. Unfortunately they didnt come with the stands where could I find replacement for them?
    This week I will take a look at the newer monitor 10's and see if they are worth a buy.

    You got a steal of a deal, there... I paid $150 for my pair of 10's, and that was even a good price. I'd say snatch up the other pair if they're as good of a price. If nothing more, you could sell them for more than you paid, I'm sure.

    As for the stands, I think you're stuck either building your own, or finding a pair of used ones somewhere. Polk no longer sells them, I believe.
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,806
    edited December 2004
    The stands are quite low tech; just some MDF. They tilt the speakers back to provide poor-man's time alignment, plus they get them up off the floor.

    I can take measurements of mine if you're interested (although the later stands for the 7's and 10's weren't identical, as I recall).
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  • Aqs612scag
    Aqs612scag Posts: 102
    edited December 2004
    mhardy, pls send the measurements. Thanks
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited December 2004
    Yeah, post 'em up... I could use them, too :)
    Thanks,

    Noah
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2004
    Monitor 10 - Stand

    Mhardy - If you have the older version let me know. I'd like to keep all the related information on the same thread, and keep it logical. Thanks for taking the time to check yours out.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,806
    edited December 2004
    oops, forgot to measure 'em last night. A little busy this week.
    There's hope for tonight. :-)
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited December 2004
    The 10's were (and are) a popular speaker, but from a critical listening standpoint, I'll never know why. They throw a reasonably large soundstage, but there is no placement within the soundstage, and the stereo image is smeared at best.

    The best sounding speakers of the bunch are the Monitor 7's, with the 5's close behind. The problem with the 10's is the side-by-side driver placement, and if they had gone with a vertical or MTM array - they wouldn't be time-aligned on the stands. And hey, time alignment is time alignment, poor mans or not.

    Had a lengthy discussion with several forum members, Polk Paul, and Al Ballard - and the consensus was the same - the only thing the 10's offered over the 7's was a little more low-end, but then they lost so much more in the way of imaging.

    Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy listening to 10's, and they are a good speaker as a whole, but the 7's are so much more 'real'.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,806
    edited December 2004
    Russ et al:

    To be honest, I always found the 10's to be a little 'thicker' sounding than the 7's. This may have been rationalization on my part, since I couldn't afford the 10's when I bought the 7's!

    I did measure the stands tonight & will post a drawing tomorrow if time permits. Meanwhile a couple of photos of one of my stands. Don't make fun of its condition... John threw the stands in gratis when I bought my demo Monitor 7A's (in 1978, IIRC). They were a little banged up then, and by golly they still are!
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,806
    edited December 2004
    ...
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,806
    edited December 2004
    ...

    are these helpful to anyone?
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2004
    Those are definetly the original's.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,806
    edited December 2004
    They're effing old, man!

    Took dimensions (late) last night. You'll note that I missed a couple (he said sheepishly).

    Here's the top view:
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,806
    edited December 2004
    Here's the side view. Note that the base 'underhangs' the speaker shelf by more in the back than the front.

    Inexplicably, I didn't write down the front and back height of the pedestal. Dang.
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  • Ken_Polk_J
    Ken_Polk_J Posts: 2
    edited May 2006
    I have had a pair of 10B's for years, heard Boston Acoustics, Electrostatic plates, mireade of others....giant JVC horned tweeters and 36" conical drive...etc. I find the Monitor 10B's better than almost all with very careful and moderated help from a Polk Subwoofer.

    I simply cannot aquire a taste for base reflex exchaust on par with the acoustic suspention Monitors.

    What would be a reasonable upgrade thats true to the original 10B Monitor acoustic suspension configuration and is vintage?
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited May 2006
    The 10B's or any Polk speakers for that matter are not acoustic suspension. The 10's are bass reflex, but instead of using a port they use a passive radiator. See link

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showpost.php?p=436182&postcount=6

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited May 2006
    mhardy6647 wrote:
    They're effing old, man!

    Took dimensions (late) last night. You'll note that I missed a couple (he said sheepishly).

    Here's the top view:

    You don't mind if I link these to the MON10 Reference thread do you?
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,806
    edited May 2006
    by all means; I'd be honored...
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited May 2006
    Ken_Polk_J wrote:
    What would be a reasonable upgrade thats true to the original 10B Monitor acoustic suspension configuration and is vintage?

    See earlier post about acoustic suspension. What type of sound are you looking for? Better bass (less boom, overhang, etc), midrange, soundstage, more realistic instrument timbre? Is there some area you find lacking in the 10's that you'd like to find another speaker to fill that void? Seriously, there are alot of great vintage speakers out there, help narrow it down a bit by stating some listening habits.....etc. :)

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • markmarc
    markmarc Posts: 2,309
    edited May 2006
    I owned the 10B's with the sl-1000 tweeter which I found quite smooth. I consider the 10B's to be second only to the ADS L810's for quality and value during the late 70's-80's.
    Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
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  • jon s
    jon s Posts: 905
    edited June 2008
    I found the drawings hard to read but the info was very informative. i was able to draft a drawing with more details. One measurement was off... here is the drawing... I think it's accurate but if you guys find any errors, let me know and I will redraw it...
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  • Jack A
    Jack A Posts: 77
    edited February 2011
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    The stands are quite low tech; just some MDF. They tilt the speakers back to provide poor-man's time alignment, plus they get them up off the floor.

    I can take measurements of mine if you're interested (although the later stands for the 7's and 10's weren't identical, as I recall).

    Do you have the measurements for the monitor 10b stands/ Jack A.
    Clarajack
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  • TennMan
    TennMan Posts: 1,266
    edited February 2011
    Welcome to the forum Jack A

    Post 21 and 22 in this thread show them but here they are again.

    attachment.php?attachmentid=6492&d=1103203891

    attachment.php?attachmentid=6493&d=1103203991

    Here is an alternative to the original design:
    attachment.php?attachmentid=55402&d=1297014756
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